Where do I go? Down the River of course!

Billy Childish is just one of the artists featured on my blog

Anyone who already reads my blog will find it an eclectic mix of mostly art’s based media. I have many interests, which I haven’t even put into my blog. – music for example. That would take up a whole other blog. But where do I go to in Blogland when I want to get away from it all and have a good time? If you look at my Blog roll you will see at a glance. But why do I go to these blogs? Why do I like them? What do I get from them?

Echostains Blog Spotlight

As hinted at a few weeks ago, I shall be spotlighting these blogs every now and again by interviewing their owners (if they are willing, there’s no obligation). If you have been reading my blog regularly you will know that I don’t accept awards. I’ve nothing against them – I am rewarded by people who take the time to read my blog daily and thoughtfully comment. The Echostains Blog Spotlight is the nearest I get to giving an award. I hope that you will enjoy these blogs as much as I do!

The first spotlight is on Albertus from artistatexit0 I can’t remember how I stumbled upon this blog – but I’m so glad I did! The link was through assemblage and artists who work with assembling objects. However, Al’s work is much more than this. I like to go there to see what he has been up to on the River – what he has found and more importantly – what he has done with them. His scuptures are unusual and ephemeral – here today and gone tomorrow, washed away by the river. They are born from the river – and they die by the river. Luckily for us, he has documented their existance with a fantastic photo collection!

1. Why is your blog thus entitled?

My blog derives its title from the literal highway exit number that I use to arrive at the Falls of the Ohio State Park in Clarksville, Indiana which is across from my home in Louisville, Kentucky. I also like its existential overtones and it sounds slightly absurd to me.

Ohio River map

2. What is your blog about and what information do you hope to get across?

After one year, I’m still discovering what the riverblog is all about through this sense for place. Generally, it concerns itself with creativity and the natural environment of which we are a part. I believe that art has survival value in life (see Ellen Dissanayake) and I feel by rediscovering our own innate creativity in all its forms that we can reconnect to the planet that sustains us. This blog is my own story and attempt to forge this reconciliation.

(applauds)

3. Whats the most exciting thing you have found in the river – and why?

Personally, the most exciting “thing” I have found in the river is myself! I know this sounds odd and perhaps egotistical, but the discovery was a renewed sense of my purpose and role as an artist in this context. To further affirm this, I once found a sign fragment that literally had my name on it. I entitled that artifact, “I Found Al by the Side of the River” and its still one of my prize possessions. My son Michael was with me and snapped my photograph at the moment of discovery. A picture of it is in my “Found Signs and Paintings Collection”.

(You knew then that you were indeed in sinc with that river:) I shall check that pic out!)

4. How did your fascination start with the river and its contents?

I have been lucky to have lived near bodies of fresh water. For me, the Ohio River was already in my proverbial back yard. My art has been informed by both natural and cultural history. Our material culture deposited in the river represents the journey we all take through life. I also drink this water.

5. Why did you start your blog?

I had been looking for a format that allowed me to provide a better relational sense for what I’m experimenting with at the river. Through the blog, I can use whatever talents I have with words and images to talk about art in the context of life. I now view weblogs as a medium in their own right. Putting my art on the web helped to relieve it from the isolation of the gallery. I also have a passion for this sense of place that is the Falls of the Ohio that I wanted to share with a wider world.

6. What would you most like to find in the river and why?

What I would like most to find is no trash in the water. Should this condition occur, I would then feel that our species is evolving and placing a priority on aesthetic issues like clean water which truly enhances life in the most meaningful way. I also would like to find an artifact that proves Prince Madoc was here just to say that recorded history isn’t all its cracked up to be.

(lol! but a lovely sentiment Al)

7. Whats’ your best adventure concerning the river?

There are simply too many to list. I do recall, however, an early incident in the park that felt transcendental like the “St. Francis in Ecstasy” by Giovanni Bellini in the Frick Collection of New York. I was hiking on the ancient fossil beds during the heat of summer and I was looking towards the skyline of a contemporary city and feeling a sublime sense for being located at this particular space and time. When I looked at my hands I was lacking stigmata and more than likely was suffering from some slight dehydration!

8. If you could advertise your blog on a billboard – what would it say?

Usually, I’m not fond of billboards. We already live in a wilderness of signs.

9. Anything exciting planned for the future of your blog?

I have a lot of unpublished content that I could scan and include on the riverblog. I have been with this project since 2003 and I like the idea of moving back and forth through time in a nonlinear way. Only I know when these events happened as though that really mattered to most people. Most of my Styrofoam sculptures no longer exist and so these other images are my only surviving documents. I also like the idea of speaking more through an invented character and then there’s also the possibility of embedding video clips. I have more Collections pages to add…so there’s much that could still occur whether this qualifies as exciting I leave to you.

(I love these characters! They are an added bonus! The video clips would be fantastic, people could get a real sense of the river rushing and share the excitement of your discoveries!! Hope you go with this!)

10 Why should people visit your blog?

Why indeed? I hope that most conscientious bloggers ask themselves this question. I hope people will enjoy what I do because it’s fun, interesting, frequently absurd, and just doesn’t hold a mirror up to the world decrying it, but offers up a little hope for it. You tell me Lynda since you initiated this interview!

(I have Al, it’s at the top:) Some really interesting answers there – thank you!)

Watch out for more interviews from my Blogrollers:) Questions shall be tailored towards the blogs subject matter)